During this year's playoffs, there's a bit of a log jam when everyone is healthy, and tough decisions will have to be made. These decisions will directly involve three of Bylsma's favorite players, Adams, Kennedy, and Engelland. Bylsma loves these players, and I believe he won't sit them under any circumstance.

But they need to sit out if everyone is healthy. Kennedy has scored a couple of big playoff goals. That was all the way back in 2009. He has not been a good player for two years now, and he is not physical enough for 4th line duty in the playoffs. He can't kill penalties. He should sit.

Engelland will fight on occasion, and he is tough in that regard, but he is slow and not at all difficult to play against. He does not clear out the crease and his total lack of passing ability hurts the breakout. He should sit.

Adams is washed up, and not just a little bit washed up. He was done several seasons ago. I love the fact that he will give up his body to block a shot. But in the playoffs, everyone does that. He has been the de facto captain of the PK unit the past few seasons, and it was the team's undoing against Philly last spring and was not good this season. Adams should sit.

Bennett, Eaton, and Jokinen should replace these 3 players. They are better players overall, and better situational players. Jokinen is a threat to score shorthanded and is a faceoff specialist. Eaton is a PK specialist. BB could be used in the bottom six but could also be a power play specialist on the second unit.

Bylsma's three amigos offer none of those special skills. They should sit. They won't. The Pens have lost their last 3 playoff series, and I hope Bylsma realizes the new guys are hungry and better, and should play.

RxBandit66 wrote:During this year's playoffs, there's a bit of a log jam when everyone is healthy, and tough decisions will have to be made. These decisions will directly involve three of Bylsma's favorite players, Adams, Kennedy, and Engelland. Bylsma loves these players...

Let me add that I agree with thepittman. The Pens will have the luxury of having a very dynamic roster that can be utilized based on the circumstances of the series or even a specific game. Anyone outside the top 6 should expect to sit or be ready on any given day. It is a very nice problem to have. And, I don't think any of them will (or should) have a problem with it if they get that top prize.

Engelland, he of the his love affair with Bylsma, has barely played since Murray was acquired and that's only when Martin and sometimes Letang or Orpik were both hurt. The top 6 when healthy is set and he hasn't been in it for weeks. Jokinen is not going to be scratched for Adams and if anything he and Kunitz have been spotting Glass's PK minutes, seemingly to clear a path for ... Bennett to dress. :-/

Last edited by NeddieVedder on Fri Apr 26, 2013 9:05 am, edited 2 times in total.

RxBandit66 wrote:But they need to sit out if everyone is healthy. Kennedy has scored a couple of big playoff goals. That was all the way back in 2009. He has not been a good player for two years now, and he is not physical enough for 4th line duty in the playoffs.

i've been a kennedy fan, and i find your characterization to be inaccurate, but as things are, yes, he should sit. it turns out that glass is indeed the big time hitter he was thought to be. he's been wrecking people lately and should be playing.

adams' presence in the lineup is going to make me irrationally angry. as soon as our penalty kill stopped being top tier, the need for adams' contributions ended. for all his veteran leadership, not only did he fiddle while rome burned last year, he was one of the people lighting **** on fire. we have better options. he needs to go.

columbia wrote:I might have go on high blood pressure medication, if he sits Glass and Bennett & plays Iginla at LW.

Glass is playing better of late, but I'd be quick to give someone else a jersey if he has a few bad playoff games. BB has earned a spot IMO, and I hope he's rewarded over a player who scored a GW playoff goal in 2009. I understand playoff experience is valuable, but this team is stacked with veterans. The only way BB gets playoff experience is if he plays.

And I totally agree that Iggy needs to play his natural position. We all know what he can do there. Duper is so great and versatile that he should be moved to the opposite wing, he won't miss a beat there.

Idoit40fans wrote:I don't really disagree on Kennedy. While I don't think Adams should be playing every night either, I can't definitively say that its wrong any time he's playing.

You bring up an interesting point about maybe rotating a few guys in and out of the lineup. Keep them fresh (some of the guys are not exactly young). I'd even consider going with 7 D on occasion if one of the forwards gets injured. Sid, Geno, Duper, and even Iginla could take an extra shift or two on the 4th line.

NeddieVedder wrote:Can't believe Bylsma said he was going to dress MacIntyre in the playoffs over Bennett because, and I quote, "you need that element of toughness in your lineup." Dan you are the worst.

I haven't heard or read this quote, and truthfully, I won't believe it until I do. MacIntyre has played one game this season and has been with the team for a whopping week. He is not valued for anything other than staged fighting, which is almost non-existent in the playoffs. Bylsma is not going to dress him, nor do I currently believe he even made reference to dressing him in the playoffs.

NeddieVedder wrote:Can't believe Bylsma said he was going to dress MacIntyre in the playoffs over Bennett because, and I quote, "you need that element of toughness in your lineup." Dan you are the worst.

I haven't heard or read this quote, and truthfully, I won't believe it until I do. MacIntyre has played one game this season and has been with the team for a whopping week. He is not valued for anything other than staged fighting, which is almost non-existent in the playoffs. Bylsma is not going to dress him, nor do I currently believe he even made reference to dressing him in the playoffs.

NeddieVedder wrote:Can't believe Bylsma said he was going to dress MacIntyre in the playoffs over Bennett because, and I quote, "you need that element of toughness in your lineup." Dan you are the worst.

I haven't heard or read this quote, and truthfully, I won't believe it until I do. MacIntyre has played one game this season and has been with the team for a whopping week. He is not valued for anything other than staged fighting, which is almost non-existent in the playoffs. Bylsma is not going to dress him, nor do I currently believe he even made reference to dressing him in the playoffs.